Setbacks, buffers and variances are some of the more confusing concepts in real estate law. Both setbacks and buffers establish a distance from something (like a boundary line or a stream) and both setbacks and buffers limit development in the area. In Maryland, setbacks and buffers are generally established by County or City ordinance.
In this simple diagram, the property owner cannot build next to the side lot lines because of setback restrictions, and cannot build near the water due to the required buffer zone. The developable area, therefore, is that part of the lot that can be used without violating a setback or a buffer.
These restrictions would be fairly straightforward, except that a property owner can apply for a variance from the restrictions, which would allow him or her to build into the buffers and setbacks. The word “variance” in this context basically means “waiver” – the property owner asks that zoning board waive the setback or buffer restrictions.
Under the Anne Arundel County Code, principal structures (houses) in residential areas must meet setbacks of 5 feet from the front lot line, 10 feet from the rear lot line and 7 feet from the side lot lines. A setback can be granted under the following provision:
Anne Arundel County Code (2005) art.18 sec.16-305
Variances.
(a) Requirements for zoning variances. The Administrative Hearing Officer may vary or modify the provisions of this article when it is alleged that practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships prevent conformance with the strict letter of this article, provided the spirit of law is observed, public safety secured, and substantial justice done. A variance may be granted only if the Administrative Hearing Officer makes the following affirmative findings:
(1) Because of certain unique physical conditions, such as irregularity, narrowness or shallowness of lot size and shape or exceptional topographical conditions peculiar to and inherent in the particular lot, there is no reasonable possibility of developing the lot in strict conformance with this article; or
(2) Because of exceptional circumstances other than financial considerations, the grant of a variance is necessary to avoid practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship and to enable the applicant to develop the lot.
Assuming that there is something unusual about the lot dimensions or topography that makes development difficult, a variance is likely to be granted. There are a second set of factors that the hearing officer will consider in determining the appropriate scope of the variance – the hearing officer must decide that (1) the variance is the minimum variance necessary to afford relief; (2) the granting of the variance will not: (i) alter the essential character of the neighborhood or district in which the lot is located; (ii) substantially impair the appropriate use or development of adjacent property; (iii) reduce forest cover in the limited development and resource conservation areas of the critical area; (iv) be contrary to acceptable clearing and replanting practices required for development in the critical area or a bog protection area; nor (v) be detrimental to the public welfare.
It is much more difficult to avoid, by variance, the impact of the critical areas buffer. Critical area protections are established by state law, but its specifics are enacted by each locality in their zoning laws. In Anne Arundel County, the basic buffers are established in 18-13-304 of the zoning code.
18-13-104. Buffers, expanded buffers, and buffer modification areas.
(a) Buffer. There shall be a minimum 100-foot buffer landward from the mean high-water line of tidal waters, tributary streams, and tidal wetlands. Specific development criteria apply as set forth in Article 17 of this Code and COMAR.
(b) Expanded buffer. Except as provided in subsection (c), the 100-foot buffer shall be expanded beyond 100 feet to include contiguous sensitive areas, such as slopes of 15% or greater and hydric soils or highly erodible soils.
For waterfront lots, a 100 foot buffer can significantly diminish the buildable lot area, and the buffer can be expanded significantly if there are steep slopes, erodible soils or streams and wetlands. At times, this can leave a lot with no area that can be developed without a variance. A landowner can seek relief by obtaining a variance from the critical areas laws — variances can be granted if the following terms are met.
(b) Requirements for critical or bog protection area variances. For a property located in the critical area or a bog protection area, a variance to the requirements of the County’s critical area program or the bog protection program may be granted if the Administrative Hearing Officer makes the following affirmative findings:
(1) Because of certain unique physical conditions, such as exceptional topographical conditions peculiar to and inherent in the particular lot or irregularity, narrowness, or shallowness of lot size and shape, strict implementation of the County’s critical area program or bog protection program would result in an unwarranted hardship, as that term is defined in the Natural Resources Article, § 8-1808, of the State Code, to the applicant;
(2) (i) A literal interpretation of COMAR, Title 27, Criteria for Local Critical Area Program Development or the County’s critical area program and related ordinances will deprive the applicant of rights commonly enjoyed by other properties in similar areas as permitted in accordance with the provisions of the critical area program within the critical area of the County; or
(ii) The County’s bog protection program will deprive the applicant of rights commonly enjoyed by other properties in similar areas within the bog protection area of the County;
(3) The granting of a variance will not confer on an applicant any special privilege that would be denied by COMAR, Title 27, the County’s critical area program to other lands or structures within the County critical area, or the County’s bog protection program to other lands or structures within a bog protection area;
(4) The variance request is not based on conditions or circumstances that are the result of actions by the applicant, including the commencement of development before an application for a variance was filed, and does not arise from any condition relating to land or building use on any neighboring property;
(5) The granting of a variance will not adversely affect water quality or adversely impact fish, wildlife, or plant habitat within the County’s critical area or a bog protection area and will be in harmony with the general spirit and intent of the County’s critical area program or bog protection program;
(6) The applicant for a variance to allow development in the 100-foot upland buffer has maximized the distance between the bog and each structure, taking into account natural features and the replacement of utilities, and has met the requirements of § 17-9-208 of this Code;
(7) The applicant, by competent and substantial evidence, has overcome the presumption contained in the Natural Resources Article, § 8-1808, of the State Code; and
(8) The applicant has evaluated and implemented site planning alternatives in accordance with § 18-16-201(c).
The critical area variance provisions require the developer to affirmatively show that there can be no reasonable building without a variance. It also requires the developer to do sufficient planning and engineering to prove that the development will be no worse for development that fully forested buffer lands. For better or worse, the real world effect of these provisions is that variances are only available to highly sophisticated and deep-pocketed applicants. For those that are opposed to a development within the buffer, there are significant avenues that can be pursued — but in many cases effective opposition also requires significant engineering and legal expertise.
In conclusion — variances are exceptions to existing law that are available to a property owner if he or she has property that could not reasonably be developed without some sort of relief from the laws on the books. Variances exist, at least in significant part, because the Supreme Court of the United States has determined that government cannot strip the value from real property by passing laws that prevent its reasonable use. That sort of law is deemed a regulatory taking without compensation, and violates the United States Constitutional prohibition against the government taking citizen’s property without just compensation.